Cutrera adds depth to Bucs' thin linebackers corps

You might have missed the transaction given all the buzz about Tanard Jackson the past day or so, but the Bucs on Tuesday signed linebacker Jacob Cutrera from the Jaguars practice squad.

Sincce he came from Jacksonville's practice squad, the Bucs are required to place him on their active roster, where he must stay for at least three weeks.

The move comes at a time when the Bucs' linebacking corps is in a fragile state. It turns out middle linebacker Mason Foster missed practice today with an ankle injury. Perhaps it's no coincidence the Bucs told Cutrera he'll be learning the strong-side and middle linebacker spots, beginning with the middle this week.

"I'm excited for the opportunity at hand," he said. "My agent said that the first team that came knocking, we were going to go with them. And I'm excited it's Tampa."

As for his natural position, Cutrera said: "In college, most of my career I played the middle. When I got to Jacksonville, they kind of put me everywhere. . . I ended up learning everything over there. . . I'm just trying to prepare myself to be ready for this. I'm trying to get the playbook down and put the concepts in my head."

If Cutrera plays, look for him to be a factor on special teams.

"I'm one of those guys who runs hard and I don't stop until the whistle blows," he said.

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